If you’re an importer or exporter, you’ve probably already discovered that there’s a lot more to transporting your product than just looking up a shipping company and sending it off to its destination. If you want to get the best price on international shipping and make sure your product arrives safely and on time, finding the right international freight forwarder is key. But how do you know which company will give you the best service? To help answer that question, we’ll look at some of the factors that make up a good international freight forwarder such as:
Ask your customers where they’re located.
Asking your customers where they’re located is a great way to find a freight forwarder that can deliver to them. You want to find out if the freight forwarder is located near your customers, as this will help reduce shipping costs and time.
Freight forwarders specialize in certain regions, so it’s important for you to understand which region your customer is in before choosing one. For example, if you’re selling products online and have clients all over the globe (like we do), then finding a freight forwarder who specializes in international shipping from Asia or Europe would make sense because those are likely where most of your customers are based out of!
Look for freight forwarders with a global presence.
Look for freight forwarders with a global presence. Those who can handle more types of shipments, have more experience with different customs requirements and are more likely to be familiar with your industry are worth their weight in gold.
Integrate the freight forwarder into your supply chain.
When choosing an international freight forwarder, it’s important to make sure that the company you choose is integrated into your supply chain.
In order for a freight forwarder to be integrated into your supply chain, they must have strong relationships with all of the other companies involved in shipping goods from one location to another. This includes airlines and ports as well as customs brokers and drivers who deliver goods directly to customers’ homes or businesses.
Ask about pricing and terms.
- Ask about pricing and terms. You’ll want to know what your company’s freight forwarder charges in terms of shipping costs, insurance, customs fees and packing/crating costs. Any other fees that might apply should also be explained in detail by the international freight forwarder you choose.
- Make sure you’re comfortable with the terms and conditions of any contract with an international shipping company before signing it; these contracts can last for years so it’s important not to rush this decision!
Check into the company’s insurance coverage.
When it comes to international freight forwarding, insurance is one of the most important things. You want to make sure that your cargo is protected in case of loss or damage. The amount of insurance coverage will depend on what type of shipment you’re sending and where it’s going, but generally speaking:
- Make sure the company insures your shipments against loss or damage by checking their policy online.
- Find out how much coverage you get with each shipment (for example, $0-$50k). This means that if something happens during transit and it costs more than $50k to replace/repair/rebuild whatever was damaged or lost, then they will pay for those extra expenses up until their limit has been reached–at which point YOU are responsible for paying any remaining costs yourself! So don’t take too lightly this part about how much coverage there should be because it might just save yourself some serious money down the road.”
Think about their track record and reputation.
When you’re looking for an international freight forwarder, it’s important to consider their track record and reputation.
- Look at their history. You can find out about a company’s past by asking for references from customers or doing a Google search on them. Be sure to check if they have any legal issues or complaints against them in your country or country of shipment.
- Ask about how they handle customer complaints and issues with customs clearance; this will help you determine how responsive they are when there are problems with shipments (which happens more often than one might think).
Make sure they have a good relationship with customs officials.
When it comes to international shipping, customs officials are one of the most important factors. They can make or break your shipment’s journey from beginning to end. When you’re choosing an International Freight Forwarder, make sure they have a good relationship with customs officials around the world.
If you find out that your International Freight Forwarder does not have a good relationship with customs officials in some countries, then this could mean that they will not be able to get your goods through customs smoothly and efficiently. If this happens while shipping overseas, there may be delays in delivery time because of these complications at border crossings and airports where all shipments must pass through before being delivered domestically or internationally (depending on what kind of service they offer).
You can find a great international freight forwarder if you know what to look for!
Now that you know what to look for in an international freight forwarder, it’s time to start the search. You can find a great one if you know what to look for!
- A global presence: This is important because you want a freight forwarder who can handle all of your shipments no matter where they go. They should also have local agents in each region where they operate so that they can be there when needed and provide excellent customer service.
- Integrated into your supply chain: Your freight forwarder should be integrated into your supply chain as much as possible so that there aren’t any delays or problems with customs officials because they don’t understand how things work with other companies involved in getting products from point A to point B.
- Good relationships with local customs officials: If something goes wrong at customs then having good relationships with these individuals will help smooth things over quickly without causing any delays or problems along the way (which would cost money).
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you understand how to find a great international freight forwarder. Remember, the most important thing is to do your research before choosing one. When you’re ready to begin working with an international freight forwarder, make sure that they have a global presence and are integrated into your supply chain so that they can provide seamless service from beginning to end. Also check into their pricing terms as well as insurance coverage; both factors will affect how much money it costs for each shipment handled by this type of company!
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